The parade was banned during the last three years over security concerns after hard-line nationalists attacked marchers and clashed with police at the first-ever event in 2010, leaving 150 people injured.

This year, police did not grant explicit permission to organizers, but simply allowed the ban to expire at midnight the day before the march was scheduled.

Interior Minister Nebojsa Stefanovic has urged calm ahead of the gay pride parade, warning that authorities could still stop the event if security was threatened.

A few thousand protesters, including members of the ultranationalist Dveri group, had marched on September 27 against the parade.